
The United Nations has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).
Alberta has a long history of pastoralism in its cattle industry. Alberta cattle producers understand the critical role that rangelands and pastoralists play in supporting healthy ecosystems, contributing to the economy, and strengthening rural economies.
In 2026, Alberta cattle producers passed resolutions recognizing the economic, social, and ecological importance of rangelands and the pastoralists who steward them. These resolutions called for the consideration and adoption of policies that support long-term rangeland health and the livelihoods of Alberta’s pastoralists, while also expressing support for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists across Alberta in solidarity with the United Nations initiative.
As part of its IYRP Strategy, Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is featuring stories on ABP Daily and in the quarterly print magazine, to celebrate some of the people and initiatives that support rangelands in the province.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) was conceived in the minds of a small group of rangeland specialists and was first brought forward at the International Rangeland Congress in Hohhot, China, in 2008. It ruminated for some time while an international support group was assembled, which successfully navigated it through four stages of… Read More

While the Torrie family has over 100 years of ranching experience, they continue to look for new and innovative ways to manage their cattle and native prairieland. Tyler Torrie and his wife Tausha, fifth generation ranchers, manage Riverview Ranch alongside Tyler’s parents David and Tami. The operation just north of Grassy Lake is comprised of… Read More

Millward Family Raises Cattle, Stewards Native Grasslands For Kelly Millward of Del Bonita, ranching has always felt like home. “I started with my grandparents, I worked there every summer while in school. I helped them and worked with my uncle,” Millward says of his introduction to ranching at a young age. After graduating high school,… Read More

“We’re just ordinary people doing what we love and what feels right. To be recognized – I can’t describe what that means to us.” In Alberta’s Special Area No. 2, about 40 minutes east of Drumheller, where drought and wind have shaped generations of ranching families, lush pasture isn’t something visitors expect to see. Yet… Read More

For as long as Grant Taillieu can remember, his family and neighbours have raised cattle and managed grasslands with conservation-minded practices. The health of the soil, plants, wildlife and water is always a top priority, which in turn supports the health of the cattle on the land. “I was fortunate enough to grow up in… Read More
IYRP is being celebrated across the world.
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